On the eve of the winter season, many car owners change the wheels of their vehicles to rubber equipped with metal studs. These tires are ideal for driving on ice or packed snow. However, the use of a tread with spikes often entails such an unpleasant consequence - damage to the car behind it by stones flying out from under the wheels or by the spikes themselves, which come off the rubber due to strong friction loads. In addition, a car with studded wheels has a shorter braking distance, which also needs to be taken into account when choosing a distance for the driver behind a moving car.
To warn road users about the use of spikes, a special sign is used, which is placed directly on the vehicle. Is the “Spikes” sign required on a car when using studded winter tires? Where should this designation be installed: on which side should the sign be, and is it possible to glue it on the rear window? When should the Spikes sign be installed: only in winter or should it be used all year round? You will find all the answers to questions regarding the “Spikes” sign below.
Using the “Spikes” sign: what the traffic regulations say
On April 1, 2017, amendments to the document entitled “Basic provisions for the admission of a vehicle to traffic” came into force. According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 333 of March 24, 2017, paragraph 8 of this regulatory act was supplemented with a provision obliging owners of cars with studded tires to install a special warning sign “Spikes” on the car.
In accordance with paragraph 2.3.1 of the Road Traffic Regulations, operation of a vehicle that does not meet the Basic Provisions for Admission to Public Roads is prohibited. This means that from April 2017, you can drive a car with studded wheels only if you have the appropriate sign - designed in accordance with GOST and placed in accordance with established requirements.
“Spikes” sign: dimensions according to GOST
The appearance of the “Spikes” warning sign is selected to make it as visible as possible to all road users. An equilateral triangle with a bright red border and a large black letter “Ш” on a white background was chosen as the basis for the image. At the same time, the state standard establishes the minimum dimensions of the sign and its elements:
- the length of the side of the triangle is at least 20 cm,
- the width of the red border is 1/10 of the length of the triangle (minimum 2 cm)
This format of the sign allows the use of its image on paper - plain or self-adhesive, as well as the choice of any size at the request of the car owner, but not less than the established minimums.
Where to put the “Spikes” sign?
Clause 8 of the Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Participate in Road Traffic contains a phrase that obliges the installation of a sign warning about the presence of spikes “at the rear of the vehicle.” Accordingly, the choice of location for its placement will be limited to the surfaces of the rear window, trunk lid and bumper.
From a practical point of view, glass would be the best choice, since it is smaller than the trunk lid and bumper and is susceptible to contamination - a sign stained with dirt will simply not be visible. In addition, the paper product itself will last much longer if it is glued to the inside of the glass.
The current traffic rules do not provide for any sanctions for an unsuccessfully chosen place to place the “Spikes” sign, so the driver must fulfill only two basic requirements:
- Have a sign made in accordance with GOST (size, color design).
- Place it at the rear of the vehicle.
Important! Experienced motorists always place the “Spikes” sign in a visible place and make sure that it is visible to other road users. Otherwise, it will not fulfill its role - to warn road users about the dangers caused by installing spikes on wheels. It must be remembered that anyone can find themselves in the driver’s seat following a car with studded tires, and such a situation will always be associated with the risk of damage to the body and windshield due to flying stones or the studs themselves.
Location of the “Spikes” sign: which side to glue on?
Since regulations do not establish requirements regarding the side of placement of the “Spikes” sign, one should be guided by the desire to make it most visible to other road users. Obviously, for drivers who predominantly drive cars with left-hand drive, the best place will be the left side of the car in front. Hence, the most optimal choice for placing the “Spikes” sign should be considered the lower left or upper left corner of the rear window.
On the roads you can see relatively large vehicles with warning signs. Let us remind you that the size of the “Spikes” sign on the rear window is adjustable only to the extent of its minimum parameters. Therefore, we can only talk about issues of aesthetics: theoretically, the owner of the car has the right to use the entire rear surface of the body of his car as a sign!
The question of where, according to GOST, the “Spikes” sign should be placed cannot be called correct, since the state standard establishes requirements exclusively for the appearance of the image, while the place of its installation is regulated by the Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Participate in Road Traffic: “the driver is required to install the sign behind the vehicle."
Fine for not having a “Spikes” sign
Changes made to the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to traffic regarding the use of the “Spikes” sign automatically added a corresponding clause to the Code of Administrative Offences. Thus, Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses now states that the fine for the absence of the “Spikes” sign is 500 rubles. At the same time, the law allows the replacement of a fine with a warning. The traffic police inspector can mitigate the sanction at his own discretion.
The possibility of getting off with a warning in no way makes the article on the need to put up a “Spikes” sign formal: the introduction of a fine means that legislators consider the problem serious and will insist on punishing persistent violators. We must not forget that a vehicle that does not meet the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Participate in Road Traffic is prohibited from operating on public roads. At the same time, avoiding any troubles, be it a fine or compensation for damage caused to someone else’s car, is very simple: just buy or print out a sign yourself and stick it on the rear window of your car.
For reference: Federal Law No. 437-FZ, which entered into force in 2016, makes it possible to reduce the amount of the fine paid by half if the violator manages to pay it off within 20 days after the fine is issued. This 50% discount applies to a limited list of violations, but sanctions for the absence of the “Spikes” sign are included in this list. This means that if you take a responsible approach to your civic responsibilities, the fine for the “Spikes” sign will be only 250 rubles.
How to make a “Spikes” sign according to GOST yourself?
To make your own “Spikes” sign, you only need to have some geometry skills, as well as have a sheet of paper and red and black markers on hand. To create a paper sign in the minimum acceptable dimensions (with a triangle side width of 20 cm), an A4 sheet is suitable (its width is 21 cm). The most important thing is to clearly observe the proportions regarding the length of the side and the thickness of the red border - 1 to 10. On the remaining A large printed letter “Ш” should be depicted inside the white square sign.
To make the future sign durable, it is recommended to use thick paper for drawing - at least 80 g/m2. sq. The ideal option would be self-adhesive paper, which will allow you to quickly fix the resulting image cut along the contour on the glass. An alternative option is a sign made on thick white cardboard and three suction cups that should be installed at the corners of the triangle.
To help! A template that can be downloaded from our website will help you save a lot of time and quickly make a “Spikes” sign in accordance with GOST and established dimensions. Go through and review the pdf file, which will help you print the sign, made strictly in accordance with the regulations. Before printing, set the required image scale, insert the most suitable type of paper into the printer and get a finished sign in just a few minutes!
Use of the "Spikes" mark in other countries
When driving a car with studded wheels outside of Russia, you should remember that in most European countries, tires equipped with metal studs are prohibited by law. The reason is that such wheels destroy the road surface, therefore, in order to save on road repairs, European legislators establish requirements for winter wheels. However, the use of winter tires in winter in Europe is mandatory.
Slightly different rules apply in Scandinavian countries. Thus, it is allowed to drive on the roads of Finland on studded wheels, but the law allows their use strictly from November 1 to March 31. There are also strict requirements regarding the number of studs on the wheel and the “density” of their placement. In addition, legal regulations differ for different modes of transport (trucks, cars and motorcycles). For example, on a passenger car with 13-inch tires, it is allowed to install no more than 90 studs protruding beyond the tread line by no more than 1.2 mm. There is no requirement in European countries that would oblige the installation of a “Spikes” sign on a car.
It must be remembered that in winter, customs inspection at automobile checkpoints in European countries necessarily includes an inspection of tires. If the tires have studs, and local laws prohibit their use, entry for such a car into Europe will be prohibited. How do Europeans solve the issue of crossing the border when, for example, going from Finland to a country where studded tires are prohibited? There are only two ways out of the situation:
- Change your tires in advance to regular winter ones at the tire shop closest to the border.
- Rent a car that meets the requirements.
Foreigners who arrive in Russia in a car with studded tires are required to bring the vehicle into compliance with the requirements of Russian laws, that is, install the “Spikes” sign on the car.
A person who has recently completed a driving course and passed the traffic police exam is considered a novice driver. He must be fully prepared for any road situations, understand the Road Driving Rules and be able to drive a vehicle perfectly. In fact, all this comes only with experience - you are unlikely to be hired as a driver in an organization if your experience is less than two or three years.
In addition, anyone will agree with the thesis that under the supervision of an experienced driving inspector, it is much easier to drive along the streets of Moscow, St. Petersburg or some small city of regional significance. When an inexperienced amateur goes out on the road for the first time, he very often gets confused in a simple road situation: he forgets about the order of passage of intersections or the traffic controller’s signals.
To inform motorists that they do not have enough experience, a special sticker-sign - “Inexperienced Driver” or “Beginner Driver” – is glued and hung on the glass.
Section eight of the “Basic provisions for the approval of a vehicle for operation” says that the sticker is placed on the windshield and rear window when the driving experience is less than two years. Moreover, without this designation you cannot pass a technical inspection.
However, from April 4, 2017, for the absence of a sticker, a fine is provided under Article 12.5. Part 1. in the amount of 500 rubles.
Possible mistakes
First of all, let's say that this plate has a form specifically approved by GOST - a yellow square with a side of at least 15 centimeters, and an exclamation mark is depicted on a yellow background. It is this that indicates that you recently passed your license. Other signs are undesirable.
Where should the sign be placed?
The traffic rules do not specifically indicate where the novice driver sticker must be displayed, only that it must be placed in a visible place.
Therefore, the sign should be hung in the following places:
- on the rear window in any corner - left, right, top, bottom;
- on the front glass - in the lower or upper corner on the passenger side;
- directly on the trunk near the license plate or rear lights.
You also need to take into account the fact that in the case of snowy winters or after a long journey on roads covered with mud and slush, the car will be sufficiently smeared, so that not only additional information plates will not be visible, but also the license plates themselves.
That is, hang the sign so that it is not hidden by dirt and snow.
When can the sign be removed?
According to the traffic rules, the designation must be valid for two years after receiving a driver’s license.
This article will be useful to motorists, as in it we will talk about the sign that should be glued when “putting on” studded tires.
Today we will talk about controversial issues arising regarding the “Spikes” sign. How to install a sign correctly and is there a penalty for its absence? This and much more is discussed further in the article.
What does the SPIKES sign for a car look like, what is its meaning?
It would seem that everyone who took their license and read the traffic rules should probably know about such a sign as “Spikes”. But as practice shows, few are familiar with this, and the meaning of this sign remains a mystery to most.
- This sign looks like this: a triangle with a red border, inside of which there is the letter “Ш”, depicted in black.
- The significance of this sign is completely ignored for unknown reasons, but at the same time it carries the most important information for all drivers.
- The identification mark does not just “say” that you are the owner of tires with studs, it informs you about the possible danger associated with this fact.
- This type of tire significantly reduces the braking distance of a car, therefore, all cars that will move behind it must be aware of this and, in accordance with this, correctly calculate their distance. In the event of emergency braking, vehicles with this type of tire will stop much faster than others that are equipped with other tires, and if you are unaware of this fact, an accident can easily occur.
- There is one more fact that the above sign warns about. The thing is that the quality of studded tires can be completely different. In this regard, cases when spikes fly out from under such wheels are completely real and pose a threat to all those who move behind such a car.
How to correctly install the SPIKES sign on the rear window of a car in accordance with traffic regulations, according to GOST: location diagram, description, photo
This sign must be attached exclusively in accordance with established norms and rules. Since establishing it otherwise will not give the desired result, simply put, the sign will not be able to fulfill its function - to inform about the danger in connection with studded tires.
- To begin with, it must be said that this sign can be bought in a specialized store, however, sometimes, no matter how strange it may sound, these signs are not available. The thing is that due to the huge excitement, drivers of studded tires began to buy up the sign en masse so as not to violate traffic rules.
- In this case, you can make a sign yourself, but it will have to fully comply with traffic rules and GOST. We'll talk about this in more detail a little later.
- And now a few words about the correct installation of the “Spikes” sign. There is no single correct place to install this sign. But it is quite logical that it is installed not for oneself, but for other drivers, in particular for those who are driving a car with studded tires.
- In this regard, the sign is installed only at the rear of the vehicle. Moreover, it must be located on the car in such a way that it can be clearly visible at a distance of 20 m to absolutely all the cars that are driving behind you.
- Experts advise attaching the sign to the rear window, in the upper part. It doesn’t matter which side you glue it on.
- When choosing the location of the sign, the driver should also be guided by his personal feelings. The sign should not block his visibility, as well as the visibility of those who are driving behind him.
- It also doesn’t matter whether the “Spikes” sign is attached inside or outside the car. This is also at the discretion of the driver. But if you have a vehicle with tinted windows, then preference should be given to the outside of the car.
Is it possible to put a SPIKES sign on a bumper?
You need to understand that it is not clearly stated anywhere exactly in what place, at what height, etc. This sign must be attached. And, therefore, you can mount it not only on the glass behind your car.
- Indeed, most often such a sign can be seen on the back of the car, in particular on the glass on the right or top left.
- However, you can also attach it to the body of your car.
- There are no restrictions regarding the bumper either. If you would like to place the sign in this exact location, please do so.
- The only thing you need to remember when putting up a sign is its visibility to other road users.
- If all the rules for such an installation are followed, then no one will be able to forbid you to glue this identification mark.
SPIKES sign: dimensions according to GOST, requirements for the sign
Each sign has its own dimensions and requirements for its “appearance”. The Thorns sign is no exception.
If you buy a sign in a specialized store, then it is clear that you have nothing to worry about. However, if you decide to make a sign yourself, then you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements for it.
- You cannot simply cut out an arbitrary triangle from paper and stick the letter “W” into it, since such application will be considered incorrect.
- The “Spikes” sign is an equilateral triangle, always white.
- In this case, the entire triangle should be surrounded by a red border, and the letter “W” should be depicted in black.
- All sides of the triangle must be at least 20 cm, and the width of the red border must correspond to 1/10 of its side.
- That's all. The requirements for the sign are not that serious, so if you wish, you can easily make it yourself.
How to make the SPIKES sign yourself: color and black and white templates for printing and coloring
Of course, making a sign yourself is not that difficult. To do this, you just need to arm yourself with paper, pencil, ruler, scissors and felt-tip pens or pencils. Next, it’s a matter of small things, measure out the size we need, draw a triangle with a border, cut it out, paint it and attach it to the car.
However, for those lucky ones who have a printer and those who are not too lazy to go somewhere and print a photo, there is a much simpler solution than described above.
- If you have a color printer, you can simply print out a sign that is ready for use.
- If the printer is black and white, then a little creative work will still have to be done. Print the sign and color it in accordance with GOST, that is, make the border of the triangle red, and the letter “Ш”, if necessary (if only its border was printed), black
- This way you will save time and money
SPIKES sign: required or not?
Such a sign can not be seen on every car, even taking into account the fact that most vehicles still have studded tires. In this regard, many may think that the sign is optional, however, this is not the case.
IMPORTANT: All cars that have this type of tire must have the appropriate identification mark. This is written in Clause 8 of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation.
- Moreover, the traffic rules, namely paragraph 2.3.1, obliges the driver of the car to ensure that it is in good condition before starting to operate the car and during actual driving.
- And if we also take into account the fact that since April last year, the absence of such a sign is equated to a malfunction of the car, then it is logical to assume that the sign is mandatory for all cars with a similar type of tire
- In the absence of such a sign, vehicle movement is prohibited.
What is the punishment, fine, if there is no SPIKES sign?
Since this identification mark is mandatory for all cars that have studded tires, there must, of course, be a penalty for violating this obligation. And it is there.
- Liability for the absence of a sign has been provided again since April last year.
- Liability is clearly regulated by Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
- The article deals with driving a car if it has malfunctions. As mentioned earlier, changes that have been made to the legislation provide that the absence of the “Spikes” sign is nothing more than a malfunction.
- If you violate this provision, the traffic police officer must hold you accountable, which will be expressed in a warning or a fine. The fine is 500 rubles.
Is it necessary to remove the SPIKES sign in the summer?
It is not clearly stated anywhere that you are required to remove this sign in the summer, which means that there will be no punishment for having it installed on your car at this time.
- It is important to remember that you must stick on the sign exactly at the same time when you change the tires to studded ones.
- If you study the law, summer tires cannot be used by any cars from December to February, that is, in winter, which is quite logical
- With winter tires everything is just as logical. She cannot be “shod” during the summer months, that is, June, July and August
- In the remaining months of the year, the driver himself decides which tires are best for him to drive and, accordingly, decides whether a sign is needed or not.
- However, placing a sign on a car in the summer does not carry with it any punishment.
- Moreover, most drivers do not remove this sign, especially for those who have the sign not on suction cups or a magnet, but glued to the glass
When you get behind the wheel of a car, you must understand that you are potentially dangerous, and your ignorance of the law in no way exempts you from responsibility for a criminal act. Read the laws, follow them, in this case you will never have any problems with representatives of the law.
Video: Spikes sign - mandatory or not? Where to glue, dimensions, GOST
Due to the fact that significant changes have occurred in the legislation related to the rules for replacing summer and winter tires, many car owners are interested in the question of how to correctly use the “Spikes” sign on wheels and what the driver faces if it is missing. After all, no one wants to receive an unwanted fine. Starting from April 2017, a traffic police inspector who stops a driver who does not have the “Spikes” sign on the rear window of the car has the right to give the latter a warning or a fine of five hundred rubles. All this will be written in more detail in this article.
A little about the main thing
All citizens who have a vehicle for personal use know that in the cold season it is necessary to drive only on studded tires. This is safer for the driver and other road users. After all, in the winter season it helps a person driving to avoid skidding and, accordingly, not to get into an accident.
However, not all drivers try to comply with the rules for operating vehicles. In this regard, in April 2017, a government decree was issued, on the basis of which every citizen driving a vehicle in the cold season must attach a “Spikes” sign to their car. All drivers will definitely need to do this when changing summer tires to winter ones. Otherwise, you may receive a fine or warning from the traffic police inspector.
What does this sign show?
This is not such a strange question as it seems at first glance. After all, every driver driving behind a vehicle on which a “Spikes” sign is installed must be aware that the braking distance of the car in front has become significantly shorter than in the summer, and therefore it is necessary to maintain a distance. Otherwise, when the first car brakes sharply, a collision will be inevitable.
In addition, studded tires are still not of very high quality. This means that if the required distance between vehicles is not maintained, you can accidentally get a piece of tire from the car in front of you into the windshield.
What is regulated
Government Decree No. 333 of March 24 of this year introduces significant regulations in force on the territory of our state. Thus, from April 4, 2017, every driver, when changing summer tires to winter ones, must stick the “Spikes” identification mark on his vehicle. This is a must for all car enthusiasts without exception. Because the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation provides for a fine of 500 rubles for non-compliance with this provision of the law. For the first time, the traffic police inspector may limit himself to a warning.
And even despite the amendments, many car owners still continue to wonder whether the “Spikes” sign is required. In 2014, significant changes to traffic rules were also carried out, but not all road users complied with them. If earlier drivers stuck a triangle with the letter “W” on their vehicles if they wanted, now this is considered a mandatory condition for operating a car.
Consequences
What will happen if you don’t install the “Spikes” sign? Is it necessary to stick it on the back of the vehicle or can you do without it? In reality, the consequences of non-compliance with traffic rules can be the most unpredictable. After all, if a road accident occurs, the traffic police officers who arrive on the scene will most likely admit mutual guilt (if they do not see the “Ш” sign at the back of the car). And in this case, the driver who did not attach the “Spikes” will not be able to prove his innocence. In such situations, the insurance company quite legally refuses to compensate car owners for damage from road accidents.
If it's summer outside
Is it necessary to install a “Spikes” sign if the season for driving on winter tires has not yet begun? Of course, you shouldn't do this. Indeed, in this case, a driver driving ahead in his car with a similar sign will cause confusion among other road users. In addition, according to existing technical regulations, studded tires must be used only when it is winter and icy outside. In the summer, car owners should limit themselves to standard tires. And it is advisable to attach the “Ш” sign to vehicles only in winter. Do not mislead other drivers.
Where to put the "Spikes" sign?
The photo below demonstrates how this should be done. This symbol must be attached to the machine in accordance with existing rules. The traffic rules state that a vehicle with spikes on its wheels must have a sign like this on the back. You can stick it on any side of the rear window, the main thing is that it is clearly visible to other road users. On trucks, it is allowed to attach the "Ш" sign directly to the body. If there is tinting on the car windows, you need to install the “Spikes” sign on top of it. Otherwise the sign will simply not be visible.
But despite the fact that changes to the traffic rules were made back in the spring, drivers’ disputes on this issue still do not subside. And therefore, many of them are still interested in the question of whether it is necessary to install the “Spikes” sign and whether it is possible to do without it, because in winter they still have to change summer tires to winter ones. It’s worth mentioning right away that this designation must be attached to the rear of the vehicle after changing standard tires. Otherwise, unpleasant communication with traffic police officers cannot be avoided.
What should it be
Before the driver starts driving the vehicle after changing summer tires to winter ones, he is required to attach a “Spikes” sign to the back of the car. GOST established and approved a sample of this designation in the form of an equilateral triangle. The length of the side of the latter must be at least 20 cm. The outline is only red. The width of the strip should be ten percent of the length of the side. In the middle of the triangle there is a large letter "Ш" only on a white background.
Such legal requirements are directly related to concerns for the safety of road users. The indicated dimensions of this sign allow other drivers to see the installed “Spikes” sign even from afar. GOST also does not provide for changing the parameters of the latter.
Technical inspection
It will be impossible to pass on studded tires without a special “Ш” sign. In addition, no one will allow the vehicle to be used without this designation. Therefore, in order for the driver not to waste his time, it is necessary to prepare in advance for the technical inspection. You can buy the “Ш” sticker at any car store; its cost is low. Another option is to change the tires before passing the inspection. But, as a rule, this does not suit all car owners.
Therefore, if any of the citizens are still wondering whether it is necessary to put up a “Spikes” sign when going on a journey or for a technical inspection of a car on such tires, let them have no doubt that this is simply necessary.
Responsibility
What threatens those drivers who do not comply with the requirements of the law and do not install the identification mark “Ш” on a car that is driven on studded tires? If the car owner is stopped by a traffic police inspector, he will have to pay a fine. For the “Spikes” sign, or rather, for its absence, the policeman has the right to give a warning. Thus, the driver will not be able to escape punishment for non-compliance with the law. Moreover, he will need to go to the nearest store or bookstall to purchase this designation. After all, the fine for the “Spikes” sign (or rather, its absence) is the loss of which can significantly affect the violator’s budget.
Why you need to follow the rules
First of all, this is necessary to ensure the safety of the driver and other road users. That is why legislators are making various amendments to the existing rules. As for the identification mark “Ш”, which indicates that the wheels are equipped with special spikes, everything is simple here: it serves as protection for other drivers moving behind the specified vehicle. After all, as mentioned earlier, the braking distance of a car with such tires is sharply reduced. Therefore, the car moving behind must keep a decent distance from it.
But is the “Spikes” sticker required if the driver has not yet managed to change the standard tires to studded ones? In this case, it is attached only after the tires are replaced.
Is it possible to do it yourself?
Due to the fact that there is currently an increased demand for purchasing a sign, many citizens are interested in questions about whether the “Spikes” sticker is required and whether it is possible to make it at home with your own hands rather than purchasing it in a store. In principle, this is possible, especially if a person has a color printer and the Internet at home, but does not have enough funds to purchase a printing sample, without which the operation of the machine is not permitted. You just need to remember the parameters of the "Ш" sign, because they must strictly comply with the state standard. Otherwise, the traffic police officer who stopped the motorist will have every right to demand his replacement.
Conclusion
Still, drivers must follow traffic rules and also show respect for other road users. After all, various information signs were created not so that citizens would ignore them, but to increase road safety and reduce the number of accidents. Therefore, every driver in the cold season, after changing tires, is required to attach the appropriate designation to the car. Motorists who are wondering where to hang the “Spikes” sign should know that it is glued to the back of the vehicle. After all, this is the only way other drivers will be informed that the braking distance of the car ahead has become shorter than usual.
Also, do not forget that poor quality studs can fly out from under the wheels while the vehicle is moving, so driving too close without maintaining the required distance is simply dangerous in the cold season. So the designation “Ш” is also necessary so that other drivers remember this.
But despite all the warnings, there are also car enthusiasts who not only do not know where to hang the “Spikes” sign, but are also not going to buy it at all due to the fact that it spoils the appearance of the rear window and leaves stains after it is removed. So, for such non-compliance with the law, such a driver will be held administratively liable.
The “Spikes” sign (letter “Ш”) must be affixed to vehicles equipped with studded tires. It serves to inform surrounding drivers about this. Where should I put the “spikes” sign?
You can learn about this from this article.
Purpose of the sign
The purpose of the sign “Ш” is:
- Informing surrounding drivers to maintain a greater distance. Studded tires greatly reduce the braking distance of a car. Drivers behind a vehicle with studded tires may not be able to brake in time.
- Determination of the culprit of the accident.
- Informing surrounding drivers that spikes can fly out from under the wheels and a greater distance must be maintained.
- Passing technical inspection in winter on studded tires.
Is it necessary to put up a “spikes” sign?
Until recently, each driver independently decided whether to stick the “Sh” sign on his car. However, from April 4, 2017, it became mandatory.
The eighth paragraph of the Basic Provisions states that one of the mandatory identification marks that must be installed on a vehicle is the “Spikes” sign.
This sign is a white equilateral triangle with a red border, in which the letter “Ш” is inscribed in black. The sides of the triangle must be at least twenty centimeters long, and the width of the edging must be at least two centimeters.
Sticker “spikes” - where to stick according to the rules
The provisions of the current legislation clearly define the required dimensions of the sign, but do not determine exactly where it should be located.
The only indication is that the sign must be glued to the back of the car so that it can be seen by the driving driver from behind.
Basically, the sign is glued to the rear window. If there is no space on it, or it gets in the way while driving, you can stick the sign on the back of the car.
Which side should you put the “spikes” sign on?
There are no clear guidelines on this matter.
However, it is best to place the sign on top of the rear window (this way it is more visible to surrounding drivers). You can choose any side for gluing.
If the rear window is tinted, the sticker must be affixed to the outside. If the glass is ordinary, it can be placed inside.
It is best to stick the sticker in the place where the glass is cleared of snow and dirt by the wiper.
How to glue
Drivers can use not only purchased signs, but also homemade ones. The plate can be found on the Internet and printed on a printer. The main thing is that it is the right size.
A homemade sticker can be attached using double-sided tape, having previously been laminated. You can also use suction cups. When using them, the sign can be easily glued and peeled off at the right time. There will be no marks left on the glass.
Fine for not having a “Spikes” sign
For drivers who drive on studded tires without affixing the “Ш” sign, administrative liability is provided in the form of a warning or a fine of five hundred rubles.
The traffic police inspector, having stopped the car and discovered this violation, must form a protocol and issue a fine.
In the summer, the law does not prohibit driving with a “Ш” sticker. There are no fines for this.
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